Byron Bay & Northern NSW
Laurence Olivier Award–winning cabaret artists Brett Haylock and Chris Chen transformed the town's languishing 1950s 'picture palace' into a vibrant…
Must-see entertainment in Australia
Victoria
At the Glenrowan Tourist Centre, Ned Kelly’s Last Stand is an over-the-top animated performance where Kelly’s story is told in a series of rooms by a cast…
Hobart
Some of Hobart’s best live tunes get an airing every Friday night in the Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard, best reached off Woobys Lane. It’s a free…
Hobart
Hobart's home of cricket and football is across the Derwent River from the city in Bellerive. The AFL's North Melbourne Football Club plays four home…
Yulara
In the concrete amphitheatre a couple of hundred metres north of the Yulara Town Sq, Danny, the local snake catcher, runs this reptile show that…
Victoria
Every night at dusk this 360-degree laser, light and water show re-creates the creation of the Murray River from prehistoric times to the present day…
Outback Northern Territory
You get a little bit of everything for your money out here – the 90-minute show is about horse training and working station dogs, but don't be surprised…
Brisbane
You can cheer both AFL football and interstate and international cricket at the Gabba in Woolloongabba, south of Kangaroo Point. If you’re new to cricket,…
Geelong
Who would've thought some dude tickling the piano, taking requests, and accompanying drag shows (Sunday night; $10) would be the hottest ticket in town?…
Melbourne
More than 50 years old, Melbourne-based Australian Ballet performs traditional and new works in the Arts Centre and around the country. Take an hour-long…
Perth
Perth's new 60,000-seat riverside stadium and its surrounding, family-friendly park (think playground, BBQs, sculptures) opened in January 2018. Big…
Melbourne
Set up by Lonely Planet founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler to showcase 'books, writing and ideas', this centre has become an important part of the city's…
Victoria
Launched in early 2019, the sound-and-light show at Sovereign Hill tells the story of the Indigenous Wadawurrung before launching into the discovery of…
Brisbane
This downtown venue hosts community theatre, local dramatic pieces, dance and art shows. It’s an effervescent spot for a taste of Brisbane’s creative…
Melbourne
This building may look like a framed piece of giant honeycomb, but it’s actually home (or hive?) to the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (www.mco.org.au), with…
Adelaide
The hub of performing arts in SA, this crystalline white Festival Centre opened in June 1973, four proud months before the Sydney Opera House! The State…
Melbourne
The MSO has a broad reach: while not afraid to be populist (it's done sell-out performances with Burt Bacharach and Kiss), it usually performs classical…
Melbourne
In 2019 Melbourne's most legendary live-rock bar had to vacate its divey AC/DC Lane basement, ending up a few blocks away in this heritage-listed 19th…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
Located onsite at Circus Oz's headquarters, this spiegeltent was built in Belgium in 1910. It's been here since 2006, when it was renamed after Aussie…
Melbourne
There's stand-up featuring Melbourne’s best-known funny people most nights of the week here. If you like to live dangerously, Tuesday's when professional…
Melbourne
One of the city’s most atmospheric live-music venues, the Forum does double duty as a cinema during the Melbourne International Film Festival. The…
Fortitude Valley
The foundation stone of this 1906 church says 'To the glory of God'. But it's the god of live alternative rock the faithful are here to worship these days…
Brisbane
When those subtropical heavens open up, take refuge at New Farm's historic movie palace. Remodelled and restored, its state-of-the-art screening rooms…
Geelong
Branching out from its inner-Melbourne location in Fitzroy is this live-music venue in a similar hipster locale. It does smoked meats – beef brisket,…
Perth
This stunning complex filled with gold tubes hanging from the ceiling includes the 575-seat Heath Ledger Theatre and the 234-seat Studio Underground. It…
Melbourne Region
Dating from 1926, this iconic venue has recently been restored. It re-opened in 2018 in time to host performances during the World Circus & Cabaret…
Mani-Mani Indigenous Cultural Theatre
Yulara
Contemporary Indigenous storytelling using sound, light and 3D visuals to tell the story of 'The Eagle, the Cockatoo & the Crow'. It's a fascinating take…
Melbourne
The band room here is one of Melbourne’s most popular midsize venues. It's seen plenty of action over the years, from Dinosaur Jr to the Buzzcocks. If…
Perth
Art-house films, classic movies and new releases screen under the stars on the 6th floor of a Northbridge car park. Beanbags, wood-fired pizza and craft…
Melbourne
Founded in 1953, MTC is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia. It stages up to a dozen productions each year, ranging from contemporary …
Sunshine Coast
This is the largest entertainment centre on the Sunshine Coast, with two theatres and a number of auxiliary event spaces. The centre hosts hundreds of…
Geelong
Opposite Kardinia Park, the boutique Pivotonian is named after an old term for Geelong people: the town was known as Pivot City during the gold rush. The…
Fremantle
Local and national bands (mainly Aussie rock and indie) and DJs play at this small place, and there's a sociable beer garden out the back. First Friday of…
Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre
Victoria
This modern complex hosts a variety of events including touring plays, musicals and occasional concerts from well-known Australian bands and musicians. In…
Victoria
A relic of the 1960s, when there were more than 330 drive-in cinemas across Australia, this National Trust-listed drive-in cinema is one of just a handful…
Melbourne
See the latest in art-house, docos and foreign films at this cinema, a locals' favourite. Cheap Monday screenings ($7/10 before/after 4pm).
Perth
Located on the fringes of Northbridge, Badlands has shrugged off its previous incarnation as a retro 1950s-inspired nightclub to be reborn as an edgy rock…
Surfers Paradise
A bastion of culture and civility beside the Nerang River, this arts centre has two cinemas, a cafe, a bar, an outdoor stage and a 1200-seat theatre,…
Newtown & the Inner West
This cinema on the top floor of the Central Park plaza offers intimate moviegoing in great comfort, with luxurious seats in 13 small-capacity screens. It…
Newtown & the Inner West
This little King St neighbourhood dive bar idolises the ‘90s with classic band posters, ‘rocktails’ and free live music. There's pizzas (named after Angus…
